The Stainton Ghost

The Cumberland News, 30/06/1999 had an article by Ruth Berry and Gill Hands about the Stainton Ghost. According to the story, a church or abbey once stood near the village and human bones were found among the ruins. During the reformation the land upon which this holy building stood fell into the hands of a certain baron, now nameless. It is not clear whether the church was already in ruins at the time, or whether the materialistic baron actually caused its demise. However, he ordered the whole site to be cleared, in order to build a home that he felt was fitting for his status. He was a ruthless, dictatorial man and not well liked. On one particular occasion he visited the building site and threw his weight about. He then charged off towards Penruddock and on the top of a hill he looked back to survey his land. His horse stumbled and he fell and broke his neck, no doubt to the satisfaction of the workmen. The resulting ghost, mounted on horseback, is occasionally seen in the area. Perhaps this tale is associated with the nearby Baron’s Hill.